About This PhD Project

Project Description

The top quark is the heaviest known fundamental particle (about 40% heavier than the Higgs boson) and its properties could be especially sensitive to possible new physics beyond the Standard Model. The LHC is a "top factory", providing very large samples of top quarks to study. This PhD project involves the measurement of top quark properties from data recorded by the ATLAS experiment during the first LHC data-taking period, 2011-2012, as well as that to be recorded from 2015 onwards in LHC Run 2. The Birmingham ATLAS group has pioneered the measurement of spin correlation in top-antitop pairs, which probes the top-quark production mechanism in proton-proton collisions. This project also involves contributing to the group’s technical responsibilities for the maintenance and development of the ATLAS experiment. Some travel to CERN will be necessary, with the possibility of an extended stay at CERN during the studentship.

Funding Notes

This research project is one of a number of projects at this institution. It is in competition for funding with one or more of these projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be awarded the funding. The funding is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Non-UK Students: If you have the correct qualifications and access to your own funding, either from your home country or your own finances, your application to work on this project will be considered.